The Second Session of the Joint Fee between Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was efficiently concluded in Colombo on 4 November 2025.
The Session was co-chaired by the Deputy Minister of Overseas Affairs and Overseas Employment of Sri Lanka Arun Hemachandra, and the Minister of State on the Ministry of Overseas Affairs of the United Arab Emirates Saeed bin Mubarak Al Hajeri.
In his opening remarks, Deputy Minister Hemachandra underscored that the institution of the Sri Lanka–UAE Joint Fee marks a major milestone within the partnership between the 2 international locations. He emphasised that the mechanism serves as an efficient platform for advancing complete cooperation each on the bilateral degree and inside worldwide fora. The Deputy Minister additional famous that, though the First Session of the Joint Fee was held in Abu Dhabi in 2014, bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and the UAE have continued to strengthen, underpinned by shut collaboration throughout a number of sectors.
The discussions throughout the Second Session offered a invaluable alternative to assessment ongoing cooperation and discover new avenues in key areas equivalent to commerce, funding, labour, and different fields of mutual curiosity. The Deputy Minister Hemachandra highlighted the significance of additional consolidating financial and commerce relations, noting that the 2 international locations had, throughout the yr, concluded two landmark agreements — the Settlement on the Promotion and Safety of Investments (IPPA) and the Memorandum of Understanding on the Institution of the UAE–Sri Lanka Joint Enterprise Council.
The UAE State Minister welcomed the elevation of the bilateral relationship up to now few months and expressed eager curiosity in specializing in enhanced commerce and tourism cooperation together with infrastructure growth concentrating on excessive finish tourism from UAE. He conveyed willingness to additional step up cooperation in vitality, investments, monetary companies and textiles, and famous the significance of financial cooperation diversification.
On the conclusion of the deliberations, the Co-Chairs signed the Agreed Minutes of the Second Session. The discussions encompassed a variety of areas of cooperation, together with political, financial, monetary, transport, sports activities, well being, customs, vitality, labour, defence, science and know-how, training, tradition, agriculture, meals, and postal sectors.
Throughout their keep, State Minister Saeed bin Mubarak Al Hajeri and the accompanying delegation additionally paid courtesy calls on the Minister of Overseas Affairs, Overseas Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath and the Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Anura Karunathilaka.
The UAE delegation was comprised of Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Sri Lanka Khaled Al Ameri; the Director of the Asian and Pacific Affairs Division of the Ministry of Overseas Affairs of the UAE Abdulaziz Al Neyadi; and senior officers representing the UAE Ministry of Overseas Affairs, Dubai Chambers, Etihad Airways, AD Ports, and different businesses.
The Sri Lankan delegation included the Secretary to the Ministry of Overseas Affairs, Overseas Employment and Tourism Aruni Ranaraja, senior officers from the Ministry, and different related authorities establishments and businesses.
The convening of the Sri Lanka – UAE Joint Fee after 11 years is reflective of the strengthening of bilateral relations between the 2 international locations, following on the current high-level visits.
The Third Session of the Sri Lanka–UAE Joint Fee is scheduled to be held in Abu Dhabi.
